Thousands of protesters marched along the streets of Dublin today demanding an end to Ireland’s ongoing housing and homelessness crisis.

The demonstration was organised by the National Homeless and Housing Coalition last December, and saw charities, activist groups, political parties, and individuals descend on the city centre for a number of hours.

The march kicked off shortly after 1pm, when a group led by Lord Mayor Michael Mac Donncha made its way from the Garden of Remembrance down Parnell Square and along O’Connell Street.

07/04/18A National day of action against the homeless and housing crisis (Pic: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)

Unusually, protesters travelled via the south quays after crossing O’Connell Bridge, before turning back across the Liffey at Capel Street Bridge and towards the Customs House via the north quays.

Although up to 10,000 people were in attendance, the march had a subdued atmosphere and stewards could be heard calling for the crowd to make more noise on a number of occasions.

Shortly after 3pm, the demonstration reached the Department of Housing at Custom House Quay, where a number of speeches and performances took place from an open truck.

Among those to speak was homeless campaigner Father Peter McVerry, who earlier told the Irish Mirror that the government needed to go “back to the drawing board” when it came to housing policy.

07/04/18 A National day of action against the homeless and housing crisis (Pic: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)